"A brilliant mind does not have a color or a gender.” -- Taraji P. Henson, Star of “Hidden Figures”

"Hidden Figures," the new film which tells the inspiring true story of the pivotal role that African American women played in the success of the early U.S. space program, took the Number 1 slot in the North American box office this week -- and it's been inspiring countless Mighty Girls nationwide! At one special screening on Tuesday, over 10,000 girls from over 100 Los Angeles area schools had the opportunity to see the film at the University of Southern California; an event kicked off by guest speakers including the film's stars Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, and Aldis Hodge as well as producer Pharrell Williams. “I wish we could do this event 100 times over all year long," said Megan Chernin, co-chair of the LA Promise Fund, the educational non-profit which organized the event. "These girls are hungering and energetic and enthusiastic."

A 13-year-old Mighty Girl in Jacksonville, Florida was so inspired by the film that she's currently running a crowdfunding campaign to take more girls to see it. “I cried, I laughed, I got angry and then got determined to not let others’ impressions of me because of the color of my skin impact how my life will be,” says aspiring astronaut Taylor Richardson, who calls herself Astronaut StarBright. “These black women did something I never knew about, and it’s not in any history books that I’ve studied thus far.” With nearly $7,000 in donations, she's already blown away her initial goal of raising $2,600. Taylor is now booking more theaters and working with organizations like the Girl Scouts, YMCA, and Boys and Girls Clubs of America to organize girls for a January 21 screening.

“This movie instills that us girls can dream big and make it even when odds are against us,” Taylor asserts. “Most importantly I want girls to know that, like boys, they too can excel in STEM with hard work.” While the hit film is particularly inspiring for girls, those involved in creating it hope that it will resonate with everyone. As Aldis Hodge, one of the film's male leads, said at Tuesday's event: "It's not just for little girls. (It's) for adults, for little boys who want to grow up and say 'You know what, I can be that too.' They will then grow up with a different appreciation, a different perspective on how to look at women."

To order the adult edition of "Hidden Figures," which is also recommended for teen readers, visit http://amzn.to/2j3PS8k

For books for children and teens about more real-life female scientists whose stories should be more widely known, check out our blog post, "50 Books to Inspire Science-Loving Mighty Girls," at http://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=13914

If viewing the film has sparked your children's interest in the Civil Rights Movement or you'd like to introduce them to the important role that women played in the movement, check out our blog post on "30 Inspiring Books on Girls & Women of the Civil Rights Movement" at http://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=11177

And, if you'd like to support Taylor's GoFundMe campaign to help more girls see this uplifting film, visit http://bit.ly/2jjYU3T

Thankful Sybil Jones owner of Preschool2Teen for sharing this. I encourage you to share it as well. I think "oh my gosh I had no idea that woman have been left out of history books like this and I need to see the movie or very least read the book". I'm Thankful to pay attention to history I'm not seeing. I appreciate Sybil's passion for what's right!! No young girl or woman should have her dreams stolen from her because of color or things like Science and Math only for boys. Not!!Go see the movie and read the book. Make sure your kids see the movie and/or read the book!

Does this resound with you? Do share and be a part of waking others from their slumber.